U.S. Ambassadors Strengthen Economic Ties between the United States and Southeast Asia
Chicago, Illinois, April 26, 2024 - Earlier this week, the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) hosted U.S. ambassadors from four ASEAN countries for its annual U.S. Ambassadors’ Tour. This delegation was represented by:
- The Honorable Heather Variava, U.S. Ambassador to Laos
- The Honorable Edgard Kagan, U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia
- The Honorable MaryKay Loss Carlson, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines
- The Honorable Marc Knapper, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam
The delegation kicked off a busy itinerary in New York City from April 22-24 and then in Chicago from April 24-26. The tour featured engagements with the private sector, city and state government officials, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions. This year’s tour focused on promoting deeper collaborations with U.S. businesses in the region to strengthen economic ties amidst increasing global geopolitical tensions.
In New York City, the delegation met with Warburg Pincus, Chubb, Newlab Innovation Center, and senior officials from the City of New York. Members of the delegation also had the opportunity to participate in different discussion formats with participants from Asia Society, Council on Foreign Relations, Weatherhead East Asian Institute of Columbia University, and New York University.
In Chicago, the delegation met with member companies, including S&C Electric Company, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), and G.E. Healthcare. Furthermore, the delegation engaged in dialogues with local businesses in Chicago, the Obama Foundation, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and the Harris School of Public Policy of the University of Chicago. To end the trip, the ambassadors met with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and senior officials representing the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GCEP).
“The U.S. Ambassadors’ Tour is a valuable opportunity to deepen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and I am especially delighted that this year’s itinerary included dialogues with stakeholders in New York and Chicago,” said Ambassador Ted Osius, President & CEO of US-ABC. “These two cities are home to key industries in the United States, and they offer a wealth of partnership opportunities with ASEAN businesses and governments,” he added. “The discussions throughout the tour will increase awareness of Southeast Asia’s contributions to global growth.”
“Since entering Southeast Asia more than a decade ago, Warburg Pincus has been committed to working closely with the U.S. government and the business community to help drive sustainable economic growth in the region. This tour was a chance to further drive momentum and build on our strong track record by bringing together the private and public sectors to help identify new opportunities. These discussions resulted in deeper ties between the U.S. and Southeast Asia, and we look forward to continued dialogue in the future,” said Jeffrey Perlman, Warburg Pincus President and Chairman of the US-ASEAN Business Council.
Member companies that participated in and supported the 2024 U.S. Ambassadors’ Tour include Warburg Pincus, Chubb, S&C Electric, ADM, and G.E. Healthcare.